Colton man to donate kidney to mother-in-law.

COLTON  Joseph P. Kraszewski is donating one of his kidneys to his mother-in-law after her seven-year battle with kidney disease, and his family is holding a fundraiser to help them both shoulder the costs.

Longtime Colton resident Denise G. Scovil was diagnosed with kidney failure in 2006. Mr. Kraszewski and his wife, Carrie L., lived in Utica at the time, but they moved to Colton to be near her. Both were tested to see if they would be valid donors, but Ms. Scovil said they should wait to start a family before committing themselves to such major surgery.

Ms. Scovil was added to the list of those waiting for kidney donors. Others who knew her said they would donate. Some backed out; some were not compatible. Six years passed. Ms. Scovil has made three trips a week to Ogdensburg for dialysis treatment at Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center.

Thats no way to live, Mr. Kraszewski said.

The Kraszewskis now have two sons, ages 2 and 4. Last year, they were retested to see if their kidneys were compatible with Ms. Scovils. Mr. Kraszewskis was. His wifes was not.

I wasnt a match. I felt kind of guilty, she said.

Mr. Kraszewski has spent the last year undergoing regular testing at Albany Medical Center as doctors make absolutely sure the transplant will not harm him or Ms. Scovil.

Right up until the last minute you could get denied, he said. It makes you feel like a lab rat.

The surgery likely will be performed at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, which has state-of-the-art facilities to ensure Ms. Scovils body does not reject the new kidney.

This will require both of them to make frequent trips to Maryland, and it will leave Mr. Kraszewski unable to work for about two months. He is self-employed as a logger.

To help both of them cover the travel costs, medical expenses and lost wages, a benefit will be held March 2.

Mr. Kraszewski said he didnt like the idea at first.

Ive never been one to take a handout, but my wife talked me into it, he said.

The event will begin at 11 a.m. at Canoe Place Inn, 5726 Route 56, Hannawa Falls. A $3 donation will be taken at the door. The event will include food, live bands, a Texas horseshoe tournament and a 50/50 raffle. About 100 items have been donated for an auction, including a two-night stay at a Lake Placid Hotel.

Participants are encouraged to wear green, the color of kidney disease awareness.